MONTREAL—Alex Galchenyuk and Michael Ryder each scored goals as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Saturday to take the season series between the rivals and open up a three-point advantage atop the Northeast Division.
Montreal (25-8-5) has won three straight against the Bruins to lead the division with 55 points. Boston's first regular season loss at the Bell Centre since October 2011 left it on 52 points.
Galchenyuk scored his second goal in as many games 6:49 into the opening period after sticking with a loose puck in the crease and shooting it off the back of Bruins' Matt Batkowski into goal.
Montreal dominated their opponents in the first period and a late cross-checking penalty to Milan Lucic carried over into the second for the Canadiens to start the second period on the power-play and with a goal. Ryder scored after just 57 seconds, tipping home a P.K. Subban point shot past Rask for his 10th goal in 12 games. Subban’s second point gave the defenceman 32 points in as many games played this season.
Boston (24-9-4) found some life after Johnny Boychuk’s shot came off Daniel Paille's back to float over Carey Price’s shoulder at 7:10 of the second period. The Habs were playing without Alexei Emelin, who left the game in the first period with a lower body injury after injuring himself delivering a check to Lucic. The Russian defenseman did not return.
Both goalies made key stops as the end-to-end pace picked up right to the final, with Price making 26 saves for his 19th win as the Bruins failed to register a shot on him with a power play to finish. Rask made 27 saves.
Montreal center Tomas Plekanec returned after being sidelined one game with a groin strain, picking up an assist on Ryder's winner.
